Accept Bilawal’s demands to avert political crisis: Chandio

Sindh information adviser Maula Bux Chandio said on Saturday that the federal government should accept the four demands made recently by Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to save democracy and avert the ongoing political crisis in the country.

“The time has come for the Nawaz government to adopt a democratic approach for all, stabilise democracy, develop political harmony and accept the four demands that include the reconstitution of a parliamentary committee on national security, the passage of a bill drafted by the PPP on the Panama leaks, the implementation of the resolution on CPEC, and the appointment of a foreign minister,” he said in a statement.

Chandio said, “The PML-N government is pushing the country towards a deep crisis and has owned enemies in the shape of ministers who will inflict colossal losses to it. The government is out and is using state force against peaceful protesters which is against political ethics and freedom of expression. The situation could go out of the federal government’s control if political issues are not resolved, small provinces are not given their due share from the federal funds and use of state force against opponents is not stopped forthwith.”

The adviser said because of the ineffective policies of the federal government, inflation and lawlessness had increased.

“The IMF has said the rate of inflation would escalate to 5.2 percent from the current rate of 2.9 percent and the prices of commodities would also surge by two to five percent,” he added.

“The increase in the electricity tariff at the rate of Rs.0.38 per unit for the consumers of Karachi only is a grave injustice. Nepra and K-Electric are federally controlled and are reluctant to cut electricity tariff for the consumers of Karachi. Such anti-people policies need to be abolished forthwith; otherwise, there will be outcry everywhere.”

He also lashed out at the federal government’s decision to move key departments of the State Bank of Pakistan from Karachi to Lahore and said this was aimed at achieving nefarious political gains which would not be allowed at any cost.

"We will put on a severe resistance against the anti-Sindh province moves of the PML-N government,” he added.

Chandio said the federal government had taken huge amounts of loans from the IMF and added more debt to the stockpile by floating $1 billion bonds in the international debt market.

“Pakistan is compelled to pay around $5 billion each year in foreign debt servicing until 2021, which is a dangerous financial situation for the country,” he added.

 “The country needs the PPP government to protect its people’s rights and the sovereignty of the nation. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto is raising his voice for the rights of the people. Bilawal will lead the country soon by winning the next general elections with a majority. The salvation of democracy lies in a positive approach and behaviour with the people and Bilawal will ensure it.”

He said anti-democracy forces were bent on harming the Sindh government through different tactics but we are wise enough to foil their nefarious designs.

He added that the Sindh government had succeeded in restoring the law and order in the country. “The people of Sindh have taken a sigh of relief as business and social activities are thriving gradually. Sindh is the soil of peace and no one will be allowed to disturb peace in the province,” the adviser said.

He said that the PML-N government and PTI activists were likely to come face to face on Nov 2 in Islamabad and the law and order situation it would create would affect business and social activities across the country.

He said the prime minister needed to adopt a political approach and give political rights to all parties in the country and stop state force against opponents.